An interview with Robert and Anna Tumchewics – Yellowknife Community Foundation

16 July 2018

Earlier this year, we sat down with Robert and Anna Tumchewics to speak about their son, John, to hear about his passion for flying and how the late Barb Bromley played a pivotal role in establishing the scholarship in his name.

Can you tell us more about John and his passion for flying?

Anna: John was a young man with genuine wit, warmth and intelligence. He had friends of all ages. He brought laughter and entertainment to his family and friends with hilarious monologues on daily life details and world affairs.

Robert: John had an interest in aviation, especially helicopters, at an early age. There were five aircraft maintenance engineers in his extended family and he was surrounded by aviation in his Northern environment.

John’s first helicopter ride was at age 5 when he helped his father volunteer at Caribou Carnival with helicopter rides by Aero Arctic to raise funds for the Montessori school. He decided to make his dream of becoming a helicopter pilot a reality while working in an exploration camp in the barrens.

Anna: John was a good helper. He enjoyed helping his friends, family, ski team members, co-workers and classmates.

Helping his father and other friends, he gained many practical skills. He would cut wood, tow a car out of a snowbank, build furniture, give rides, buy coffee and doughnuts and lend a listening ear among countless other small acts of kindness in his daily life.

How did the idea for a scholarship first come up?

Anna: Barb Bromley encouraged our family to start the fund shortly after John’s accident. She spoke about the positive contributions of a fund with the Yellowknife Community Foundation.

After discussions with the board, we established the scholarship in John’s memory in 2011.

Robert: Helping is the primary focus of the Yellowknife Community Foundation and we really felt that this was in keeping with the way John lived his life.

What would you say to those considering establishing a fund with the Yellowknife Community Foundation?

Anna: A scholarship in John’s name is a meaningful way to remember him. We received good advice from the board members of the Yellowknife Community Foundation and would recommend establishing a fund through YCF to create a legacy in someone’s memory.

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About the Yellowknife Community Foundation

The Yellowknife Community Foundation was formed in 1993 to provide interested individuals and organizations with a means of supporting projects in our community for the enduring future. The Foundation is not singularly dedicated to any specific area of support. It embodies a simple concept – that people working together can make a difference for all. For more information: https://www.ykcf.ca/

About the John Tumchewics Memorial Fund

The John Tumchewics Memorial Fund was established to assist individuals with helicopter flight training, upgrading by endorsements or ratings and the purchase of safety equipment. Aircraft maintenance engineers working toward a helicopter endorsement may also apply. Scholarship funds may also be used for other individuals seeking training in the aviation field. For more information: https://www.ykcf.ca/portfolio-view/john-tumchewics-memorial-fund/

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Impact Story - Skate North -...

The Yellowknife Small Grants Program offers micro-grants of up to $1,000 for individual residents of Yellowknife, Ndilǫ, and Dettah to bring the community together and help make it better. The first ever batch of grants was awarded in Fall 2025 to eight community members, including Forrest Doctor for his ongoing project, Skate North.

The initiative aims to make skateboarding more accessible to youth by providing safe skate spaces, equipment, and mentorship.

” I want to encourage youth to commit to their passions, take initiative, and create positive change. For me, that means creating a safe space for learners, something I didn’t have when I first started. This project is about keeping skateboarding alive in the NWT and giving our youth the support and opportunities they deserve.” – excerpt from Forrest’s proposal

Forrest used the grant to purchase helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards to give away to up-and-coming skaters. Through free prize draws, in-person outreach, and open calls on social media, Forrest was able to get gear directly into the hands of youth who need it the most.

Forrest Doctor giving away gear at the miniramp in Ndilǫ. The ramp was constructed in Spring 2026 as part of a Skate North wordworking workshop, delivered in partnership with the YKDFN Dechı̨ta Nàowo Training Center.

Matt Wolff from Rumor Boardshop in Edmonton, AB.
The skate shop is an ardent supporter and partner to the Skate North project.

Donate to the Fund

The results of this direct access model were both immediate and unexpected. Two things stand out especially. First, Forrest noticed that new skaters were able to instantly start with confidence. Having proper safety gear in place meant they were free to try things as many times as they wanted. That ability to iterate safely creates a level of early learning and progression that is invaluable.

Second, the degree of engagement from youth, families, and the larger community was uplifting. Skate North has now grown through additional volunteers, sponsors, and partners, including local schools. It shows that there is a strong demand for skateboarding and action sports overall. Now an olympic sport, the old cultural stigmas attached to skating have faded away. All that remains is a desire to get out there and rip.

Forrest partnered with Rumor Boardshop in Edmonton, AB to acquire the gear at a discounted rate. Shop rep Matt Wolff had this to say on the impact of skating and initiatives like Skate North:

“Especially in smaller communities, skateboarding can be a huge outlet for youth, not only physically, but to express themselves artistically as well. It also brings a real sense of community for people. I grew up in a small town in the middle of Alberta, and the people I skateboarded with I still have friendships with to this day.”

We can’t wait to see a new generation of skaters come up and grow the local scene in the North. Keep rolling.